DefMin Les had a meeting with Chairman of the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) Mikhail Kostarakos

At a meeting on Thursday with visiting Chairman of the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) Mikhail Kostarakos, Romania's Defence Minister Gabriel Les on Thursday said the EU must enhance its part as a security provider, voicing Romania's political and operational support for such an ambitious approach of the EU.

"Talks at the meeting focused on the implementation plan for the EU Global Strategy, the security and defence dimension, with emphasis on current affairs under discussion in the EU — permanent structural cooperation, standing planning and command organisation and coordinated annual defence revision," the Romanian Defence Ministry (MApN) said Thursday in a press statement.

Les unveiled the defence priorities of the Romanian Government, underlining the importance, amidst the highly complex current security environment and challenges facing the region, of upgrading the defence capabilities in a national context as well as through multinational mechanisms provided by the European Union and NATO.

"At the same time, the defence minister pointed out that the EU must enhance its part of a security provider, voicing Romania's political and operational support for this ambitious approach of the European Union, by realistic engagement in an efficient materialisation of the defence priorities identified by the strategy in accordance with the conclusions of the November 2016 Foreign Affairs Council meeting and the European summit of December 2016 in the province of security and defence," says MApN.

Chairman of the European Union Military Council was also welcomed on Thursday by Chief of Romania's Armed Forces Staff Nicolae Ciuca, to discuss aspects of the EU's common security and defence policy and the participation of nations in the projects conducted inside the EU.